Time-telltale



H. MAULE.

Time Check No. 32,303; Patented May 14,1861.

UNITED STATES PATENT EFL/i...

HENRY )LU'LE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TIME-TELL'IALE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 32,803, dated May 14. 1861.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY MAIFLE, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an lm iirovement in lVatchmens Time- Checks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the ac companying drawing-and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists of a door with slits arranged at suitable intervals, a permanent plate of slate or other suitable material and an intervening detachable plate with a single slit the whole being arranged, applied to a clock, and operating as set forth hereafter so that it is impossible to mark the plate of slate through any slitof the door other than that which coincides with the slit of the intervening plate, the instrument thereby serving to check the time of the watchman whose duty itis to mark the slate at stated intervals during his hours of duty and whose attention or negligence may be at once ascertained by an examination of the slate.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a face view of the watchmans time check, with portions removed, for the purpose of the better illustrating of my improvements. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the front portion of the clock.

A is the case of the clock, which is in the present instance of an octangular form, but which may be of any other shape, as my improvements can be applied to clocks of every description.

Bv is the cover or door, hinged at one side to the case; and provided at the opposite side with a projection a, through the end of which, as well as through a staple attached to the case, passes the tongue of an ordinary padlock Z), or the door, in place of the appliances for receiving the padlock, may be provided with any other suitable locking apparatus. In the face of the door, and near the edge of the same are a series of oblong openings or slits 0, arranged in a circle, and corresponding with the hour marks of an ordinary dial, the proper figures des'ig nating the hours being marked on the door near the slits. Between each of the slits i is another slit f, the position of which corresponds with the half hour marks on a clocks dial. If necessary intermediate slits may be used at points corresponding with the quarter hour marks.

D Fig. 2, represents the end of that spindle of the clock to which the hour hand is usually secured, and to this spindle is fitted the central hub of a plate E, which is confined to the spindle by means of a detachable nut ]z, this plate E having a single slot 2', so situated that as the plate revolves. the slit will move in the range of the slits and f in the face of the door B.

Behind the plates E, but free from contact with the same, an annular plate F of ordinary slate or other suitable material eapable of receiving a mark which can be easily obliterated, is secured to the case of the clock and on this slate are permanent marks corresponding with the slits on the door Supposing (3 oclock in the evening to be the hour when the watchman has .to commence his duties and that his instructions are to mark the face of the plate F at regular inter'als of half an hour during the night. The plate E is, in the first instance adjusted to such a position that at (3 oclock its slit 2' shall coincide with the slit marked 0 and numbered 6 on the door B. At half past six it is the duty of the watchman who since six oclock has been taking his rounds to return to the clock when he will find that the plate E has during his absence moved around in the direction of the arrow, so far that its slit 2' coincides with that slit 7 of the door which corresponds with the half past siX mark. He is therefore enabled to pass the point of his pencil through the slit in the door, and through the slit 2' of the plate E, and to make on the slate a mark which is a certain indication of the punctual performance of his duties, and this marking of the slate continued during every half hour of the night. Should the watchman neglect to make the required mark, at the proper intervals, should he for instance fail to attend to the clock at the hour of twelve, and not before a quarter past that hour, the slit '2' of the plate E, will have passed the slit 0 numbered 12 of the door, so that it will be impossible for him to mark the slate at the proper place, without unlocking the door the key of which in the possession of the time keeper or other duly appointed ottlcer, who on opening the door in the morning removing the plate E and examining the face of the slate F knows at once that the watchman has neglected his duty between half past eleven and half past twelve oclock; the face of the slate in fact affords the most accurate record of the due performance by the watchman of his duties or of his absence and neglect.

I am aware that a clock with a door through which a watchman can mark a plate or disk at intervals so as to record his attention or inattent-ion during his hours of duty has been heretofore used. I therefore do not claim broadly such a device; but

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent. 7

The door B with slits e and f, arranged at impossible to mark the plate F through any slit of the door other than that which coincides with the slit 2' of the plate E as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY MAULE.

\Vitnesses HENRY HowsoN, JonN HITE. 

